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507-451-8678 | 505 W North Street Owatonna, MN 55060

AUTO REPAIR & MAINTENANCE BLOG

Maintaining your vehicle at home is a satisfying way to keep your motoring costs down. With the right knowledge and products even someone who isn't very mechanically inclined can take care of many of the smaller issues in everyday driving. Sometimes, however, car issues can be too specialized or complex for the average motorist to take care of by themselves and it becomes time to take your car to the pros. Below you'll find three major warning signs that you need to get to a mechanic ASAP, as well as some of the potential causes behind them.



Engine and Drivetrain Problems

Let's start at the beginning. If your car won't even turn over and start up, then the rest of the problems on this list won't come into play. The simplest cause of this issue is a dead battery, which you can remedy with jumper cables, and the instructions that come printed on their packaging. If jumping the car doesn't work, you may have a larger problem with your ignition system. It's advisable to take your car into the shop at this point because finding the root of the problem will likely involve removing a few parts from your engine. Whether it's dead spark plugs or electrical problems, it's better to have it dealt with by a professional. Likewise, engine surging where the revs rise and fall can mean a problem with your fuel injectors, which are fairly deep within your motor. It's unwise to drive around with a surging engine, as this burns more gas and can cause unintended acceleration. Drivetrain issues are another major issue requiring professional attention. Everybody fears the dreaded transmission repairs, so if certain gears won't engage or they shift at the wrong times you should definitely take your car to the qualified mechanics here at Ron's Repair Service.



Vibration While Driving

This issue can be caused by damaged drivetrain components, but can also stem from misaligned wheels or unbalanced or flat tires. If you feel any vibration or shuddering as you drive along, you should get to a mechanic as soon as you can. At its worst, this issue can lessen your control over the car, potentially causing accidents. This will also wear out your tires more quickly than if everything was straight and true. Unwanted vibrations put stress on important (and costly) components like suspension and brakes while decreasing gas mileage, so it's smart to take your car in as soon as these issues develop.



Poor Braking Performance

Your brakes are vital to keeping you safe on the road and should definitely be cared for by a professional, unless you're absolutely sure you know what you're doing. Common signs of issues with your car's braking system include squeaking or squealing when the brakes are applied, or the brakes feeling spongy and failing to slow your vehicle properly. Squealing brakes are caused by the brake pads wearing through the pad surface to the metal underneath. At this point the metal behind your brake pad is coming into contact with the brake rotor. This can be disastrous and produce unwanted heat, reduced stopping power, and cause you to have to buy new rotors as well as the relatively cheap pads. Spongey and weak brakes can mean there's a problem with your master cylinder, which converts the mechanical pressure of you pressing the pedal into hydraulic pressure to apply the brakes. In either case, it's best to have your brakes seen to by the professional mechanics here at Ron's Repair Service.



There are instances where car maintenance is simple and easy, but if you notice any of these issues developing, it's best to take your car in for a qualified mechanic's checkup so the problems can be remedied before they turn into much more serious issues. Ron's Repair Service has the tools and expertise to have you safely back on the road in no time at all.




What Our Customers Are Saying

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I called because one tire was low - after sliding into a ditch and being able to drive out - This was a Friday around 4:15. Will allowed me to come in, filled the tire, removed a piece of trim that had come loose during my excursion into the ditch, sprayed out the rest of the snow in the tire-which stopped the steering wheel from shaking. This was all done in a short period of time and I was able to finish my trip to Minneapolis. I wish I lived closer to this shop! I was thrilled with the service!

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Ron's Repair has always been dependable and has treated me so great. There is no other place I would take my vehicle.

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Friends recommended so I took our car for a oil change and tire rotation. They did a good job! Bonus is the beautiful Irish setters!

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Ron's has always been fair and honest, they do a great job. It's the only place I trust taking my car to.

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I have driven my car back to the dealership where I bought the car from for years which was over an hour away because I never felt I received the honest and straightforward auto service I deserved in Owatonna. Out of a real sense of urgency I gave Ron's Repair a try and I can't tell you how pleased I have been with the customer service as well as the auto repairs, maintenance and straight answers about what I really need to take care and what can wait. I highly recommend you give Ron's a chance to take care of your auto repairs needs they won't disappoint.

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I was quite impressed with my first experience with Rons repair. My car just came out of warranty and I was having some issues with my A/C. Rons was able to get my car in right away and had it fixed that same day, but what really made them stand out is I had a cabin air filter in my backseat that I was going to install at some point and when I picked up my car they had informed me that they went ahead and installed that filter for me. I was not expecting that, saved me the hassle of doing it and it compelled me to give them a great review. All my service work will from now on be going to Rons!!

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